Advanced math in game design: random walks and Markov chains in action
Game Developer
SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
In this article, we’ll analyze two mathematical concepts: Markov chains and random walks.
Concepts Game Design Games 
BitCake Studio built online multiplayer game Atomic Picnic completely remote
PreMortem.Games
NOVEMBER 8, 2024
BitCake Studio , an indie game development studio based in Brazil, is celebrating its 10th year in the industry. Eduardo Lamhut, the company’s main Game Designer and Creative Director of the upcoming game Atomic Picnic , explains how the company started. She drew a lot of the first concept art for the main characters.
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The Last Three by Csaba Putnai “Discipline and planning are essential, but don’t forget flexibility”
PreMortem.Games
JANUARY 6, 2025
Its his second game after the release of his debut, Bob A Thousand Lives , which he developed in his forties. The Last Three is a game about the last stone tiger family that lives deep in a magical forest. The concept for The Last Three stems from Putnais fascination with resilience and the complexities of human relationships.
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4 Lessons from Exit Games for Aspiring Board Game Designers
Brand Game Development
JULY 13, 2020
Certainly, board game designers can learn a lot from well-designed escape rooms. Exit Games by Kosmos are the closest we can get to the authentic in-person experience right now. Exit Games by Kosmos are the closest we can get to the authentic in-person experience right now. Need help on your board game?
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4 Lessons from Santorini for Aspiring Board Game Designers
Brand Game Development
JANUARY 14, 2019
Santorini is a fantastic board game that came out about two years ago. In its heart, it’s an abstract strategy game that could have come from antiquity. It has been given the modern board game polish, though, with adorably cutesy art of Greek gods, and an incredibly photogenic set of stackable plastic components.
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3 Signs It’s Time to Quit Working a Board Game Design Idea
Brand Game Development
MARCH 29, 2021
From time to time, I see board game creators on social media who have been working on the same design day-in, day-out for years on end. The first are people making a board game as a labor of love, who know they’re taking their sweet time on it, and they’re OK with it. Need help on your board game?
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7 Lessons from Monopoly for Aspiring Board Game Designers
Brand Game Development
MARCH 9, 2020
Monopoly: it’s one of the oldest board games in the store. It’s one of the top 10 best-selling board games. It’s also a terrible board game. When board gamers need a game to mercilessly mock , they look no further than Monopoly. Need help on your board game? Monopoly has a staggeringly low 4.4
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Game art vs game design: What is the difference?
Logic Simplified
AUGUST 8, 2023
Video game development is a collaborative process that involves various people with specialized skills. The two most critical roles in this process are game artists and designers. Since most of us are unaware of the process of creating a game, we usually confuse game design and game art as being the same.
From fantasy kingdom to cyberpunk metropolis – the evolution of Technotopia by Yustas Games
PreMortem.Games
NOVEMBER 4, 2024
Technotopia by Yustas Game Studio is a deck-building game of high-stakes urban strategy, where every decision matters and the city’s fate lies in the hands of an AI architect named Iris. But initially, Techotopia was a completely different game. But after reviewing similar games on the market, the team picked a new direction.
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Importance of playtesting in game design
Logic Simplified
AUGUST 14, 2023
The game development process is a complex and challenging process involving ongoing iteration and improvement in order to develop an exciting and captivating final product. One vital approach used during game development is playtesting. So, what is playtesting and how is it an essential part of game development? Let’s find out.
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4 Lessons from Everdell for Aspiring Board Game Designers
Brand Game Development
OCTOBER 28, 2019
Last year, Everdell by Starling Games raised nearly half a million dollars on Kickstarter. It has remained a popular board game since, regularly topping out the Board Game Geek Hotness and showing up multiple times as a giveaway prize in Pangea contests. Everdell is a worker placement, tableau-building board game.
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Wrapping up 2024 • Celebrating the life and works of solo developers
PreMortem.Games
DECEMBER 24, 2024
Here at PreMortem.Games, we have great admiration for developers who tackle the entire game development cycle on their own. Because, lets be honest, creating games is hard and it takes a special kind of developer to choose the solo path. This game represents me as a developer, he says. I get excited to implement wacky ideas!
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Kazakhstan-based Goodwin Games takes us on an emotional adventure in Selfloss
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 28, 2024
Set in a beautiful, Slavic-inspired world, Selfloss by Kazakhstan-based indie studio Goodwin Games is an adventure that explores themes of grief, healing, and resilience. Reflecting on the game’s core concept, Khoroshavin shares, “The very first idea was that I want to make a game about an old protagonist that can traverse via boat.
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COCOON creator Jeppe Carlsen “I never compromise on playability”
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 11, 2023
Cocoon, the intricate puzzle adventure by Jeppe Carlsen , known as the lead gameplay designer of Limbo and Inside, launched to raving reviews after 6.5 The game immerses players in a captivating odyssey across worlds within worlds, beckoning them to master the art of world-leaping mechanics to uncover a cosmic mystery.
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Fly into the unknown with Void Sails by Ticking Clock Games: “We’re self-funding our debut”
PreMortem.Games
FEBRUARY 24, 2025
Void Sails by indie developer Ticking Clock Games is a single-player action-adventure RPG that takes players on a thrilling journey through mysterious worlds, where they captain a flying ship across uncharted space. The name Ticking Clock Games serves as a reminder for the team to stay on track and meet deadlines.
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Solo dev Jason Nicot on his new project Sanctua “A more mature party game”
PreMortem.Games
MAY 24, 2024
Jason Nicot , a French solo game developer operating under the name Choose Red , recently announced his latest game Sanctua. In this co-op multiplayer game a group of players have to work together to escape a cursed tomb. He went into transportation management, but game development never really left his mind.
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From Concept to Success: A Deep Dive Into Our Popular Gaming Solutions
Logic Simplified
DECEMBER 7, 2023
Game as a Service (GaaS) has fundamentally transformed the gaming industry. There is a shift noticed from the traditional model of releasing a complete, standalone game to it now becoming an ongoing, evolving experience. GaaS is shaping a more dynamic and interconnected gaming landscape for the creators and the gamers.
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Mobile 3D Games vs. Console Games: What’s the Future of Mobile Gaming?
Big Games
JANUARY 9, 2025
The gaming world is changing fast, and mobile phones are leading the charge. Not too long ago, we could only dream of playing high-quality 3D games on our phones. Mobile gaming becomes more impressive with every new smartphone release, making traditional gaming methods out of vogue.
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Solo dev Vladyslav Pidiashenko “I hope IHAS will inspire players to better their lives”
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 30, 2024
“I wanted IHAS to deal with so many philosophical concepts,” Pidiashenko explains. “What inspires me is the belief that I can make a great video game that will influence the player and make them reflect on their life, and hopefully make a change for the better.” What are the biggest advantages of working solo?
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Finding your true love may win the game in Fabledom by Grenaa Games
PreMortem.Games
APRIL 12, 2023
There are plenty of city building games around but Fabledom adds a fairytale twist to the genre. Set in a storybook kingdom filled with magical creatures, kings and castles, the game gives players the opportunity to build their own kingdom and find their true love. He never worked on a ‘real’ game either. Making games is hard!”
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BAFTA announces 2023 Young Game Designers competition winners
GamesIndustry.biz
JUNE 22, 2023
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox BAFTA has unveiled the 2023 winners of its Young Game Designers (YGD) awards. In the ten to 14-year-old category, Max Whistlecraft won the Game Concept award with Polarity, a science-themed title; users can switch the polarities like a magnet to fight bosses.
new jam game: Where's the beef
Radiator Blog
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
then made me think of hidden object games, a genre with an audience that traditionally skews heavily toward women. This was a golden opportunity for my favorite game design trick: make a game that's literally about doing the thing , don't try to adapt it into a platformer or shooter or something! Very simple.
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Solo dev Esteban Hernandez spent 7 years on Creo God Simulator: “I’ve learned perseverance”
PreMortem.Games
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
What started as a passion project has grown into a full-fledged god game blending city-building, resource management and player-driven storytelling. I became a solo developer initially because I wanted to make games, plain and simple, he says. I have full freedom and control over every aspect of my game.
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Summer 2025 Game Development Student Internship Roundup, Part 2
Ask a Game Dev
NOVEMBER 14, 2024
Internship recruiting season has begun for some large game publishers and developers. If you’re a student and you have an interest in game development as a career, you should absolutely look into these. This means that a number of internship opportunities for summer 2025 have been posted and will be collecting applicants.
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How to Diagnose Failure & Move Forward as a Board Game Developer
Brand Game Development
MAY 14, 2018
This is part one of four in the Failure Recovery series in Start to Finish: Publish and Sell Your First Board Game. Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. With games, this involves the nature of the project itself.
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Make a Board Game in 28 Days: A Challenge by Brandon the Game Dev
Brand Game Development
FEBRUARY 1, 2021
Today, I have a challenge for you as a board game designer. I want to see you make a board game in 28 days. That’s why I’ve provided a 28-day game design challenge for you. Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators.
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Exploring How Coding Concepts Can Be Applied to Real-Life Situations
Real Programming
JANUARY 29, 2024
Math concepts are baked into programming when kids start learning, though it definitely gets more advanced as they pass through the courses. Jobs Finally, knowing how to code opens the door to countless jobs, including in fields adjacent to video game design or programming. the answer may sadly not always be affirmative!
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How To Play-Test the Rules of Your Board Game
Brand Game Development
DECEMBER 11, 2017
Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the sixth of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? Rules provide directions on how to execute activities within a game.
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Why Gamification Makes Everything Else More Fun
Brand Game Development
JUNE 3, 2019
The concept is simple: through gamification, you take the elements we associate with games – point scoring, competition, rules – and apply them to something else. Businesses have fallen in love with this concept because they’ve found that gamification works wonders for motivating people.
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How to Design the Core Engine of Your Board Game
Brand Game Development
NOVEMBER 6, 2017
Board game development is a very individual process. Every single developer has different methods for creating their games. This article is the first of a 19-part suite on board game design and development. Need help on your board game? How do I come up with an idea for the core engine for my game?
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Tape to Tape by Excellent Rectangle is the world’s first hockey roguelite
PreMortem.Games
MAY 10, 2023
Canadian indie game development studio Excellent Rectangle just launched their debut title Tape to Tape on Steam Early Access. Combining the world of ice hockey with a roguelite may seem like an odd match, but for game designer Hugo Julien and his fellow co-founders Jean-Nicolas and Mathieu Fortin, it was a natural choice.
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Top Unreal Game Development Companies in 2024
Logic Simplified
APRIL 1, 2024
Looking for a Real Unreal Game Development Company? The potential for building epic games on Unreal by game app developers and creators across industries has increased. The potential for building epic games on Unreal by game app developers and creators across industries has increased. Is it well-defined?
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Why Endless Runner Games Are So Popular
Logic Simplified
FEBRUARY 24, 2025
Endless runner games are like those friends that are always available to go out; hassle free, always attention grasping and require little to no planning. Hailing from the casual gaming brigade, these games have become synonymous with the mobile gaming experience, delivering entertainment at your fingertips with just a few taps.
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Gerel: Against The Corvus Empire - a pixel art video game by CGS grads
CG Spectrum
NOVEMBER 24, 2022
He decided to start his own indie game development studio, Overwrite Interactive , and create a video game from scratch. For Alan's video game to come to fruition, he needed a team of capable artists to help him. The game's narrative was inspired by the strong women in Alan's life. Gerel battling enemies.
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The Growing Use of Generative AI in Game Design
iXie gaming
FEBRUARY 11, 2024
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has become a buzzword across different sectors, including gaming. Generative AI has experienced increasing usage in game design as it accelerates and streamlines different aspects of game development. As a result, they allow for a more personalized and dynamic gaming experience.
How to Make Board Game Rules
Brand Game Development
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
This week while working on my current board game design, a lot of things have come into focus. Now it’s time to start tweaking board game rules. This is where board game design often becomes very tricky. Need help on your board game? Many of the rules in a game will come from the board, cards, etc.
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The 10 Most Popular Board Games and How They Made Gaming Better
Brand Game Development
JULY 29, 2019
Board gaming has a long, storied history that goes back to ancient times. You can find old games of Ur, Senet, and Chess carved out of stone and buried in tombs. Indeed, the modern board game landscape that we know and love is only about as old as Catan , which came out in 1995. Need help on your board game?
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20 New Year’s Resolutions for Board Game Devs in 2020
Brand Game Development
DECEMBER 30, 2019
Need help on your board game? Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. With that in mind, I want to help you come up with some New Year’s Resolutions of your own, ones specifically related to board game design. Create your first board game. Card games count, too!
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A follow up to your answer about veilguard (was really hoping you would touch on that one). Why do game companies that have a “bad” release always seem to start from the bottom of the pyramid when it comes to restructuring and recouping losses? Why fire low level devs who did their best with what they had, when the companies have people in senior positions making hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) that they could just cut from? Why do the trenches always get the punishment first?
Ask a Game Dev
FEBRUARY 3, 2025
This is because a given project is at its maximum headcount right before it ships - you need all hands on deck during full production, building and validating all of the content in the game. There needs to be other projects in development to pay for those people after the game launches.
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The Top 10 Old Board Games (Before Catan)
Brand Game Development
JUNE 17, 2019
In many ways, the modern board gaming boom began with Catan. It is a phenomenal game that, when it came out in 1995, revolutionized the way we saw board games. on Board Game Geek. But board games have been around since Mesopotamia , so let’s talk about the top 10 old board games. Dune (1979).
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Maniac Mansion Design Notes
Grumpy Gamer
JULY 15, 2014
While cleaning out my storage unit in Seattle, I came across a treasure trove of original documents and backup disks from the early days of Lucasfilm Games and Humongous Entertainment. Gary had done a lot of art long before we had a running game, hence the near finished screen without the verbs. More design flow and ideas.
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A deep dive into the beautiful (video) game in A Tale of Two Halves by Bitmap Books
PreMortem.Games
OCTOBER 16, 2024
Bitmap Books is known for its catalogue of visually stunningly books on the art, history and culture of video games. Their latest offering, the upcoming book A Tale of Two Halves: The History of Football Video Games , is no exception. Special Touches The production process doesn’t stop at writing and design.
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Game Design Idea, how to generate catchy level names for your game?
Jaunty Bear Games
NOVEMBER 5, 2021
This week I was looking for ways to describes the levels in the game, a meaningful and catchy approach, somewhat more meaty than a classic level 1, level 1-1, world 1 etc. The post Game Design Idea, how to generate catchy level names for your game? appeared first on Jaunty Bear Games.
Maniac Mansion Design Notes
Grumpy Gamer
JULY 14, 2014
While cleaning out my storage unit in Seattle, I came across a treasure trove of original documents and backup disks from the early days of Lucasfilm Games and Humongous Entertainment. Gary had done a lot of art long before we had a running game, hence the near finished screen without the verbs. More design flow and ideas.
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